Beach 6 km southwest of San Carlos
A sheltered rocky cove west of San Carlos, popular for shore diving, snorkeling, and exploring tide pools.
Piedras Pintas is a small, sheltered cove on the rocky coast west of San Carlos, and it is the favorite place in the area to dive or snorkel straight from the shore. The cove is well protected from the wind and has little current, so the water is usually calm, and it is shallow enough that it is hard to go deeper than about 12 meters. That makes it a classic spot for diving courses and first try dives.
Its name means "painted stones", after the unusual rock formations along the shore, and at low tide the rocks hold tide pools full of small marine life that children love to explore. You can dive here all year. In winter, giant sargassum seaweed grows up to about 7 meters tall and turns the shallows into an underwater forest, while in summer the warm water makes long shore dives a pleasure.
There is little infrastructure and no palapas for shade. Bring an umbrella, water, and your own snacks, or come with one of the San Carlos dive shops.
What to see and do
Snorkel or shore dive in the calm, shallow cove.
Take a beginner dive course or a try dive with a local dive shop.
Explore the tide pools among the colored rocks at low tide.
In winter, swim through the tall forests of sargassum.
Getting there
Piedras Pintas is on the coast a few kilometers west of central San Carlos, around 10 to 15 minutes by car toward the Mirador Escénico area. Dive shops in San Carlos run trips here. Bring an umbrella, since there is no shade.
6 km southwest of San Carlos
Directions from San Carlos on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather warm
Piedras Pintas shares the climate of San Carlos, 6 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Apr, May, Nov.
Make San Carlos your base
Piedras Pintas is an easy trip from San Carlos, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around San Carlos
-
Estero El Soldado
· Nature reserve · 5 km away
A protected mangrove estuary between San Carlos and Guaymas, great for kayaking, paddleboarding, and birdwatching. -
Cañón del Nacapule
· Nature reserve · 6 km away
A palm-filled oasis canyon in the desert mountains just north of San Carlos, with spring-fed pools and a scrambly trail. -
Mirador Escénico
· Viewpoint · 7 km away
A clifftop lookout west of San Carlos with sweeping views of Tetakawi, the bays, and the islands; the place to watch sunset. -
Playa Los Algodones
· Beach · 7 km away
San Carlos's long white-sand beach, backed by dunes you can sandboard, with calm water for swimming and water sports. -
Isla San Pedro Nolasco
· Nature reserve · 34 km away
A rocky island west of San Carlos where you snorkel and dive with playful sea lions; a classic boat day trip.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.